Products A–Z
HS code for starters and discharge tubes
In the UK Trade Tariff’s list of everyday names, “starters and discharge tubes” points to heading 8539: electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units and ultraviolet or infra-red lamps; arc-lamps; light-emitting diode (LED) light sources. Check the description and the notes of the chapter before declaring: the right code depends on what the goods are made of and how they are used.
The UK Global Tariff divides 8539 into 32 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, 8539 covers 21 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 3.7%. 1 of them is duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides 8539 into 30 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 3.7% (average 2.7%). 1 of them is duty-free.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 32 tariff lines 
EU Free – 3.7% Third-country duty 21 tariff lines · average 2.6% 
Türkiye Free – 3.7% Third-country duty 30 tariff lines · average 2.7% 
USA Free – 5.8% General (MFN) 18 tariff lines · average 2.4% 
Canada Free – 8% General (MFN) 29 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
Mexico Free – 35% General (MFN) 38 tariff lines · average 3.4% 
Brazil Free – 18% General (MFN) 29 tariff lines · average 15.6% 
Argentina Free – 20% General (MFN) 67 tariff lines · average 17.2% 
Peru Free – 6% General (MFN) 25 tariff lines · average 3.6% 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 22 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Japan Free General (MFN) 14 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free – 7.5% General (MFN) 22 tariff lines · average 4.2% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 24 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 12 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 12 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 15% General (MFN) 22 tariff lines · average 12.5% 
Nigeria 10% – 20% General (MFN) 13 tariff lines · average 19.2% See also
- bulbs
- arc lamps
- led bulbs
- lamp bases
- light bulbs
- infra-red lamps
- ultra violet lamps
- lamps (bulbs, tubes)
- fluorescent lamps/bulbs
- lamps (bulbs and tubes) - arc
- discharge lamps, i.e bulbs only
- lamps (bulbs and tubes) - discharge
- mercury vapour and sodium vapour lamps
- neon lamps (shaped, number or letters)
- filament and discharge lamps i.e. bulbs
- tungsten lamps >200 watts (mains voltage)
- lamps (bulbs and tubes) - electric filament
- flood light, lamp, halogen (outdoor >100 volts)
- tungsten halogen lamps (other than uv or infra-red)
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for starters and discharge tubes?
Starters and discharge tubes are classified under 8539 (Electric filament or discharge lamps) in the Harmonized System. National tariffs add more digits; see the lines on this page.